UN Security Council Condemns Taliban Restrictions on Women

The United Nations Security Council has condemned the Taliban's restrictions on the rights of Afghan women and girls to work and receive education, urging the group to lift these prohibitions. The resolution, passed with majority support from over 90 countries on Thursday evening, emphasizes the UN's strong commitment to supporting Afghanistan's sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national unity, as well as ongoing support for its people. The resolution, numbered 2681, identifies humanitarian aid, human rights, particularly the rights of women, girls, and religious and ethnic minorities, security, terrorism, drug trafficking, economic and social crises, dialogue and participation, governance, and the rule of law as challenges currently faced by Afghanistan. It also stresses the importance of full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in efforts to promote peace and security, and increasing their role in decision-making and human rights advocacy. Members of the Security Council expressed deep concern over the increasing disregard for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan by the Taliban, particularly their unequal access to education, economic opportunities, work, public life participation, freedom of movement, justice, and essential services, the absence of which makes peace, stability, and prosperity unattainable in the country. The Taliban have imposed numerous restrictions on the work and educational activities of women and girls since their takeover of Afghanistan, barring them from working in government offices and NGOs, as well as attending schools and universities. The group only allows girls to attend school until the sixth grade and has also prohibited women from visiting recreational parks, public baths, and sports clubs. The Taliban claim they permit women to work and study only according to 'Islamic Sharia and Afghan culture.' The resolution describes the Taliban's ban on women working in UN offices as 'unprecedented' in the organization's history and states that this ban undermines human rights and humanitarian principles. It emphasizes the 'vital role of women in Afghan society.' The UN reiterated that effective humanitarian assistance requires full, rapid, safe, and unhindered access in accordance with international law for all humanitarian entities, including women, and that the ban on women working in UN offices, alongside previous restrictions, will have a severe negative impact on the organization's activities. The United States supported the resolution, with Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, welcoming it and stating, 'The UN Security Council resolution passed today sends a clear message to the Taliban: We condemn the oppression of Afghan women and girls and demand the immediate repeal of your indefensible orders. While Afghan women and girls are deprived of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, the international community will not remain silent.' She added that the Taliban, contrary to their commitments to the international community and Afghan women and girls, have obstructed their work and education, stating, 'These oppressive decrees prevent Afghanistan from achieving stability, economic prosperity, and future growth. They expose women and girls to increased gender-based violence and sexual exploitation. They block life-saving humanitarian aid from reaching Afghans in urgent need.' The Security Council also emphasized the need to address the dire economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, including efforts to revive banking and financial systems and utilize the assets of the Afghan central bank for the benefit of its people. Following the withdrawal of international forces and the Taliban's return to power on August 15, 2021, the US and other Western countries froze over $9.5 billion in Afghan assets and cut off the Taliban's access to them. Approximately $7 billion of these funds were held in the Federal Reserve Bank in New York. However, President Joe Biden authorized the use of $3.5 billion from these assets on February 11 to address the humanitarian and economic crisis in Afghanistan. The situation in Afghanistan has been recorded as one of the largest emergencies in the world, with the UN estimating that six million people are on the brink of famine and 28 million Afghans, or two-thirds of the country's total population, are in need of assistance. The Security Council issued this resolution while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set to host a conference on May 1 and 2 to assess the situation in Afghanistan in Doha, Qatar. Special representatives from various countries regarding Afghanistan will participate in this meeting, which will be held behind closed doors, to discuss common goals for finding sustainable solutions to the situation in Afghanistan. The Security Council has called on the Taliban to lift all restrictions that prevent women and girls from enjoying their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and has urged all countries and organizations to use their influence, in accordance with the UN Charter, to eliminate these restrictions.